MHS parking lot project put on hold
By TOM BERRY
Staff Writer
Laying of new pavement on Murray High School's parking lot and reconstruction of existing drainage systems to avoid constant flooding will have to wait until the Murray Independent School District's Board of Education determines costs involved from suggested additional projects.
Members of the board delayed filing a construction request with the Kentucky Department of Education during a meeting last night until the additional cost of new lighting could be determined. The total project was considered the next logical and most important step in on-going reconstruction at the school.
Citing numerous potholes and flooding that could present a threat to student and public safety, MHS Principal Teresa Speed told the board that a new parking lot was the most important item remaining on a list of 34 facility construction needs.
“I think it's the next step that would have the biggest impact,” Speed said.
Superintendent Bob Rogers told the board that the total cost of paving and drainage reconstruction would be about $150,000.
Funding could be available if the state approves a request to use funds left over from previous MHS and Murray Elementary School projects from 2001. However a suggestion that new lighting may also be needed led the board to delay filing a request to the KDA for approval until the urgency and cost of the added expense could be evaluated.
Rogers pointed out that funding used on the construction project, if approved, is restricted to capital and facilities construction only and cannot be used for general fund expenses such as teacher salaries, classroom expenses, utilities and transportation.
The board is planning a special-called meeting soon to take action on the proposal, because the funding request needs to be made soon to have it approved by the state in time for construction to take place during the summer. A time and date has not yet been determined.
For complete story, see today's Ledger & Times
Story created Jan 11, 2008 - 11:56:23 EST.
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